NHRC notice to Kerala police over death of Odisha woman

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from Kerala police on death of an Odisha woman migrant labourer in Thrissur district under mysterious circumstances on July 10.

Acting on a complaint by human rights activist Akhand, the Commission has directed the Superintendent of Police (SP), Thrissur to file the report within four weeks.

As per reports, Ketaki Bibhar (20) of Sikerkupa village under Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district died in Kerala in suspicious circumstances. She was working at Laxmi Inter Lux, a Tile Company, at Kijayur near Pattambi.

Ketaki had gone to Kerala with some other people from her village in January this year. She was working in a tile company at Kijayur. On July 10, she had gone to a nearby market in the evening after finishing her day’s work. After returning, she vomited in her room. Her co-workers rushed her to a hospital at Pattambi, where doctors declared her dead. Post-mortem was conducted at the government medical college and hospital at Trishur, victim’s family members said.

“Her family members are suspecting it to be a case of murder. The company owner later sent the body to her native place on a train with one of her relatives. It’s very disturbing that many people, including minors, are migrating to other states to work in hazardous condition,” Akhand alleged.

There is no record maintained by the Labour officer of Kalahandi district. They are being trafficked by the middlemen with false assurance of high salary, Akhand added.

The petitioner has sought a probe into the incident and adequate compensation to the victim’s family.